SMART GAL! Your the one Free to be her True Self! [no mood changing chemicals] I've been off all for 24 years and i can tell you life is grand without it; I usually have soda water with a twist of lime;
If someone thinks you need to be drinking when your not, it is only to help them justify what they are doing; If they really have a problem with you not drinking and keep mentioning it then they are an alcoholic and can't imagine life with it and can't imagine anyone as they put it, not having a good time; This good time is only temporary for them especially because they are obsessed by it;

OH, Terri Lynn, I had the most amazing night of my whole life. And to think, without any alcohol! I cant actually remember even as a teenager, when I would be out on the town drinking, NEVER have I had such a good time as Saturday night. I call still feel the remanants of that amazing energy when I think about that night.

I keep wondering, and analysing it. Was it because of looking after my health, not drinking for the lasst six months, what caused this huge change in consciousness. I felt so HIGH and without any mood altering substance whatsover.

I do tend to have somewhat of an addictive personality, so I have to be careful with what I indulge in.

I envy you. I do have an alcohol addiction and although I don't overdo it (3 glasses wine per evening) it is still too much. However, I can't get off it. I don't understand it because 3 glasses of wine per night is not all that much (too much I know) but by alcoholic standards, not really a big deal. Why can't I get off it?

I think you have to change your way of thinking about alcohol, at least for me thats how it worked the best. I saw how much damage it did to my body, i.e. aggravated my Candida, and I guess I was just really sick and tired of abusing my body for so long, not just with alcohol, but with prescribed drugs, unhealthy diet, no exercise, no form of stress relaxation.

My current boyfriend doesnt smoke or drink. He initially had a problem with alchol a few years ago which he told me about, and has not had a drink since five years now. Its great to go out with someone who cares about their body, as much as I do.

My best friends mother is an alcholic,, and I am sure I read somewhere that sometimes it can be a deficiency in the body that causes the strong cravings for alchol which then leads to alcholism. Maybe something to look into.

Alcohol is definitely an addictive substance. Some people have a harder time than others breaking that addiction -- this is why there are so many programs to help people stop drinking. I am glad that you have the awareness that this is a difficulty for you. Do not hesitate to get help.

My own story -- I don't drink at all. I grew up watching some of my family members destroy themselves by not admitting there was a problem with alcohol. And now that my vision is clear through years of working on myself, I can see how destructive it was for everyone in the family who had to watch.

Happygal,
I got to watch almost my whole family who were alcoholics,
Aunts,uncles and mother and grandma and grandpa, and I realised I had the same chance of becoming one. The man who took me in showed me a better way of life, the best dad I could of ever had. He tried to show show me right from wrong,he told me how addictive it could be and as I watched my family I realised how true it was and decided not to ever touch the stuff. On December the 30 th I will be 37 and I have never touched the stuff. I watched destroy my mother she is dying and one of my uncles died of alcohol poisoning very young in life. (There are other ones too.)
So many people don't understand how it can control you. But I have had some fine examples how it can destroy your life... So If you can stay away from it that is very good.
Imagine what it is doing to the inside of your body. Wow!!!

You could be compensating for something (a job you don't like).
You could be avoiding something (facing up a major life change).
You could be unhappy, and this started as an attempt to cheer yourself up, but ended up a habit.
You could be using alcohol as a means of relaxation.

Regardless of why, you seem to have slowly slided into half-addiction, half-control situation. So I guess, you still have half a chance to get out of it! Good luck!

Hi Santha, It helps a lot to have a partner also being a health conscious person and having a non drinker, not drug person around; We pick up thought patterns from others and that is why they say Birds of a Feather Flock together; Being off 6 months helps, the next key is to watch the mind and the thinking and when any problems arise then Nip them in the Bud so to speak! Have a friend to process them with before they get out of hand and the mind starts wanting that drink; Remember an Alcoholic does not mean someone drinks all the time. It means that someone who has an allergy to alcohol, and one who has inherited a certain mind set on not having tools to move thru problems effectively; Keeping our mind on solutions instead of problems always helps; Many start by I need a drink to relax by! Why not meditation instead??
Keep up the observation! Consciousness changes as we care about who we really are and make a fundamental change; Know longer are we running away from the power that is within us!

he is a good influence on me. He doesnt smoke, drink, eats healthy, gets good quality/quantity sleep and works out everyday on a regular basis.

"and that is why they say Birds of a Feather Flock together"

Thats probably what attracted us to each other in the first place, on a subconscious level anyway. :) I have come to realize just how powerful my mind really is in attracting what I think about and it seems to draw whatever it is I am focusing on or want to myself. Even a fleeting thought, amazes when I realize that I just thought of what it would be like to experience this or that, and there you have it, it suddenly falls into my life. Makes me smile in awe at the power of the mind.! :)

The only thing my boyfriend doesnt do is meditate. I may mention it to him, but it may go right over his head. :) I can but try.

Many start by I need a drink to relax by! Why not meditation instead??

Because the alchol is an instant pick me up. Meditation also makes you feel better, but sometimes I find there is a resistance to it. But I certainly wouldnt let things get bad enough that I would have a drink. I rather chat to a friend, do intense exercise, whatever, but drink. I know I would regret that intensely afterwards.

"Know longer are we running away from the power that is within us!"

You are right on target again, Terri Lyn! This is something I learnt about myself today, and it was very self revealing.